Aircraft luggage locker

ABSTRACT

An aircraft luggage locker is disposed in a compartment under a seat cushion which pivots about a horizontal axis. The locker includes a rack to receive luggage which is of generally parallelepiped shape, has a back from which extends a bottom wall and an opening at the end opposite the back. The rack is mobile between a lying down position in which the back is in a substantially vertical plane, the bottom wall is in a substantially horizontal plane, and the opening is facing a wall of the compartment, and an inclined position in which the bottom wall is inclined to the horizontal and the opening of the rack is in a raised position relative to the back. Movement of the rack between the lying down position and the inclined position is a combination of a movement in translation in a horizontal plane and rotation about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction of movement in translation of the rack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an aircraft luggage locker.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Aircraft passengers' carry-on luggage is usually placed in anoverhead luggage locker above the seats. This conventional arrangementis also encountered in other forms of transportation, for example busesand trains.

[0005] Although widely used, in an aircraft this place for luggage has anumber of disadvantages. Given the shape of an aircraft cabin, whosecross section is usually the shape of a circular arc, little room isleft above the heads of seated passengers. On rising, passengers musttherefore take care not to bang their head against the luggage lockers.

[0006] Aircraft cabins are usually relatively low in height andproviding overhead luggage lockers closed by a hinged flap makes thespace inside an aircraft cabin seem cramped.

[0007] There are strict safety requirements in an aircraft. Luggage mustbe shut away and there must be no risk of it escaping from its stowagein flight. Furthermore, there are standardized luggage dimensions. It istherefore necessary to provide stowage able to accommodate a standardpiece of luggage. The stowage must also be easily accessible. It isfurthermore necessary to provide space for equipment such as life vests.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a new aircraftluggage locker that conforms to the constraints to be complied with inthis aeronautical application and frees up the space above seatedpassengers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] To this end, the present invention proposes an aircraft luggagelocker disposed in a compartment under a seat cushion which is adaptedto pivot about a horizontal axis, the locker including a rack adapted toreceive luggage which is of generally parallelepiped shape, has a backfrom which extends a bottom wall and an opening at the end opposite theback, and is mobile between a lying down position in which the back isin a substantially vertical plane, the bottom wall is in a substantiallyhorizontal plane, and the opening is facing a wall of the compartment,and an inclined position in which the bottom wall is inclined to thehorizontal and the opening of the rack is in a raised position relativeto the back, in which luggage locker movement of the rack between thelying down position and the inclined position is a combination of amovement in translation in a substantially horizontal plane and rotationabout a substantially horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction ofmovement in translation of the rack.

[0010] The above kind of luggage locker can accommodate luggage of thepassenger seated on the corresponding seat, which can be a seat for onepassenger or for several passengers. The bag is placed in the rack whenthe latter is in its inclined position and the rack is then moved to itslying down position. Thus the bag is not merely placed in a lockerprovided under the seat cushion, but accommodated under the seat withthe possibility of providing a gap between the seat cushion and theluggage locker. This gap can be used to stow safety equipment (forexample a life vest) and to accommodate the feet of the person seated onthe seat, or of another person seated behind the seat.

[0011] The combination of rotation and movement of the rack intranslation between its lying down position and its inclined positionmeans that the same size rack can accommodate a larger bag. In thisembodiment the rack pivot axis for example substantially corresponds toan edge between the back of the rack and the bottom wall that ishorizontal in the lying down position, is mobile, and tracks themovement in translation.

[0012] The seat cushion preferably pivots about a horizontal axis at ajunction between the seat cushion and a back of the seat.

[0013] The pivoting of the seat cushion advantageously causes themovement of the rack. There is therefore no need to manipulate the seatcushion and the rack separately to place a bag in the luggage locker orremove it. It is sufficient to pivot the seat cushion about its pivotaxis.

[0014] To re-establish a flat floor above the luggage locker, the latterhas, for example, a lid which forms a floor, is adapted to pivot aboutone of its edges, is disposed between the rack and the seat cushion andis substantially horizontal when the rack is in the lying down position.In an embodiment resulting in a flat floor above the locker, the rackhas a top wall that is substantially horizontal when the rack is in thelying down position and has a hinge axis parallel to the pivot axis ofthe seat cushion. In this case, it is the rack itself that forms thefloor.

[0015] The present invention also provides an aircraft seat comprising aseat cushion and a seat back wherein the seat cushion pivots about asubstantially horizontal axis and the seat incorporates a luggage lockeras defined hereinabove.

[0016] The pivot axis of the seat cushion is preferably at a junctionbetween the seat cushion and the seat back. The seat can receive one ormore passengers.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the seat includes a floor coveringthe rack of the luggage locker when the latter is in the lying downposition, a lid being provided in the floor for access to the rack.

[0018] Details and advantages of the present invention will emerge moreclearly from the following description with reference to theaccompanying diagrammatic drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIGS. 1 to 4 are perspective views of an aircraft seat providedwith a luggage locker in accordance with the invention, showing fourdifferent positions of use.

[0020] FIGS. 5 to 8 correspond to FIGS. 1 to 4, respectively, and areside views of the seat and its luggage locker to a smaller scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] The drawings show an aircraft seat comprising a seat cushion 2and a seat back 4. For clarity, the drawings do not show any arm rests,which are optional. The seat back 4 is substantially vertical andextends upward from the seat cushion 2. The latter pivots about ahorizontal axis 6 at the level of the junction between the seat back 4and the seat cushion 2. The seat cushion 2 can therefore pivot from asubstantially horizontal position (see FIGS. 4 and 8) to a substantiallyvertical position (see FIGS. 1 and 5), folded against the seat back 4.The seat cushion 2 and the seat back 4 are mounted on a frame 8 that isnot shown in detail, for example a tubular frame, which may be fittedwith a side panel 10, in particular if the seat is at the end of a rowof seats.

[0022] The seat shown includes a luggage locker that is accessible whenthe seat cushion 2 is raised, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The luggagelocker of the seat includes a rack 12 disposed inside a compartment 14.

[0023] The rack 12 is of globally parallelepiped shape, with oneinclined end. It has a rectangular back 16 from which extend a bottomface 18, a top face 20 and two lateral faces 22. The rack 12 is open atthe end opposite the back 16. The opening 24 of the rack is rectangularand is not parallel to the back 16, but inclined, thereby forming theinclined end of the rack 12. The inclination is such that the lateralfaces 22 of the rack are identical and the top face 20 is slightlysmaller than the bottom face 18.

[0024] In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the faces 18, 20 and 22of the rack are solid, but it should be noted that these faces 18, 20and 22 are not necessarily solid. The bottom face 18 and the back 16 arepreferably solid, but it does not matter whether the other faces aresolid or perforated. In the case of the top and lateral faces 20 and 22,structurally defining only the corresponding edges may be envisaged, forexample by means of a tubular structure. It is also possible for onlythe back 16 and the bottom face 18 to be structurally defined.

[0025] The compartment 14 is elongate and also of parallelepiped shape.The bottom of the compartment is preferably the floor of the aircraftcabin. The vertical lateral walls of the compartment are solid, butcould be at least partly perforated or of mesh construction. The topwall includes an opening allowing the movement of the rack 12.

[0026] In FIGS. 1 and 5, the rack 12 is in an inclined position ready toreceive a bag 24. As shown here, the bag is a standard bag correspondingto the maximum size of bag generally accepted by airlines as carry-onluggage. The seat cushion 2 is folded back against the seat back 4. Theopening 24 of the rack 12 is substantially horizontal. It is just belowthe bottom face of the seat cushion 2 when the latter is raised (seeFIGS. 4 and 8). Raising the seat cushion 2 exposes the opening 24, whichis smaller than the seat cushion 2 and substantially centered relativeto the area exposed by raising the seat cushion 2.

[0027] Note that the opening has a rim 28 adjoining and substantiallyperpendicular to the top face 20. The rim 28 serves as a stop to limitthe movement of the rack 12. In the fully open position shown in FIGS. 1and 5, the rim 28 is in contact with the seat cushion 2 substantially atthe level of the axis 6. The rim 28 is also useful in preventinganything dropping between the rack 12 and the seat cushion 2 when therack 12 is in this inclined position. A similar rim can be provided onthe frame 8 to prevent anything dropping between the frame 8 and therack 12.

[0028] In the inclined position of the rack, the edge 30 at the junctionbetween the back 16 and the bottom face 18 rests on the bottom of thecompartment 14. The lateral faces 22 are in a vertical plane. The bottomface 18 is inclined to the horizontal. The higher portion of the bottomface is forward of the seat, i.e. on the side opposite the seat back 4,and the lower portion of the bottom face 18 is to the rear of the seat.

[0029] The bag 26 is inserted into the rack 12 when the latter is in theinclined position shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. It can therefore slide alongthe bottom face 18 like a toboggan (see FIGS. 2 and 6) until itencounters the back 16. In this position, it is fully inserted into therack 12. The latter can then tilt to the lying down position under theseat cushion 2.

[0030] The movement of the rack 12 shown in the drawing is a combinationof a movement in a translation and a rotation. The movement intranslation is horizontal and toward the rear of the seat, i.e. from theseat cushion 2 toward the seat back 4. It is symbolized in FIG. 7 by anarrow 32. The rotation is about the edge 30. It is symbolized in FIG. 7by an arrow 34.

[0031] During this movement, the edge 30 remains in contact with thebottom of the compartment 14. For the rack to slide more easily, theedge 30 can be provided with wheels or skids guided by rails. Othermeans can be envisaged. This combination of a movement in translationand a rotation allows a bag 26 protruding from the rack 12 to fit intothe compartment 14. The rack 12 could have only a movement in rotation,but this would reduce the size of bag that could be accommodated in thecompartment 14 for the same size of rack 12.

[0032] At the end of its movement, the rack 12 is lying down and isentirely inside the compartment 14. The bottom face 18 and the top face20 are substantially horizontal and the back 16 is substantiallyvertical. The lateral walls 22 are in the same vertical plane, but havepivoted in that plane. The opening 24 is facing the front lateral wallof the compartment 14, and the bag 26 is therefore trapped in the rack12. FIGS. 4 and 8 show this lying down position.

[0033] The compartment 14 can remain open from the stop 28 as far as thefront lateral wall of the compartment 14. The passenger can then accessa garment or anything else he has placed in the rack without having tostand up and open the luggage locker. In this case, the stop 28 alsoprovides a footrest for the feet of a passenger seated behind the seat,preventing that passenger treading on items stowed in the luggagelocker.

[0034] As shown in the drawing, the compartment 14 is the same width asthe seat and aligned with the front of the seat. However, it protrudesto the rear of the seat and thus forms a step to the rear of the seat.This step can be used as a footrest for the passenger seated in the seatbehind the seat shown. It is also possible to make a false floor at theheight of the top wall of the compartment 14. The seat is then raisedrelative to an access aisle and a step must be provided to access theseat (or a row of seats).

[0035] To prevent an object, a foot or a hand being trapped between therack 12 and a wall of the compartment 14 during the movement describedabove, a pivoting flap 36 is provided to the rear of the seat. The flap36 is horizontal when the rack 12 is in the lying down position (FIGS. 4and 8) and when it is in its most inclined position (FIGS. 1 and 5).Between these extreme positions of the rack 12, the flap pivots to trackthe movement of the rack 12, as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 7, forexample. The flap 36 has an elongate rectangular shape. One longitudinaledge pivots on the top face of the compartment. Its other longitudinaledge rests on the top face 20 of the rack 12.

[0036] In parallel with the movement of the rack 12, the seat cushion 2can be folded. These two movements can be independent of each other. Apassenger wishing to stow a bag then raises his seat cushion and pullsout the rack 12, moving it from its lying down position to its inclinedposition. He then inserts his bag into the rack 12, pushes the rack backinto its lying down position, and then lowers his seat cushion 2 inorder to sit down.

[0037] The pivoting of the seat cushion 2 advantageously also causes themovement of the rack 12. The passenger then has only to raise his seatcushion, insert his bag 26, and lower his seat cushion. The rack 12simultaneously moves from its lying down position to its most inclinedposition and then returns to the lying down position.

[0038] To couple the movement of the rack and the movement of the seatcushion, it is sufficient to provide at least one link connecting theseat cushion 2 to the rack 12 (preferably two such links). This link 38is shown only in FIGS. 5 to 8. For example, a link 38 of this kind isfixed to the bottom face 18 of the rack near the opening 24 and to thebottom face of the seat cushion 2, i.e. the face of the seat cushionopposite that supporting the passenger.

[0039] Relatively small objects placed in the rack can be prevented fromescaping from the compartment 14 in flight, for example if the aircraftencounters severe turbulence. Thus a lid can be provided, positionedbetween the rack 12 and the seat cushion 2. The lid is not shown in thedrawing. It can simply consist of a lid mounted in the same way as theflap 36 but with dimensions such that it extends just forward of theseat. The shape of the lid is such that, in the lying down position ofthe rack 12, the opening in the top wall of the compartment 14 isentirely covered by the lid. The compartment 14 is then entirely closed.

[0040] Another way to close the compartment 14 is to provide a top face20 whose shape corresponds to the shape of the opening in the top wallof the compartment 14. To prevent this face impeding insertion of a bag26 into the rack when the latter is in the inclined position, the topface 20 of the rack 12 can be hinged. It can be hinged at the edgebetween the back 16 and the top face 20. While a bag is being insertedinto the rack 12, the top face 20 and the bottom face 18 then form adihedron that converges toward the back 16. The hinge, which ispreferably parallel to the edge between the top face 20 and the back 16,can be disposed elsewhere on the top face 20, for example adjacent theopening 24.

[0041] The seat and the luggage locker according to the invention thusenable a bag to be stowed under the seat of an aircraft passenger. A gapremains between the lowered seat cushion and the luggage locker. Thepassenger seated on the seat, or a passenger behind him, also has roomfor their feet between their seat cushion and the luggage locker. Thisspace is also sufficient to receive safety equipment such as a lifevest.

[0042] If a plurality of seats are arranged in a row, the solutionsdescribed above for stowing luggage can accommodate a greater volume ofluggage than prior art overhead luggage lockers above the seats. Onelocker can be provided for each seat in the row, or there can be onelocker common to several seats, to increase the storage space.

[0043] Passengers have more room above their heads and are thereforeless likely to bang their heads on standing up. This also produces alarge volume within the aircraft, giving the impression that the ceilingis higher.

[0044] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments describedabove and shown in the drawings. It also includes all variants withinthe scope of the following claims that the person skilled in the artmight envisage.

There is claimed:
 1. An aircraft luggage locker disposed in acompartment under a seat cushion which is adapted to pivot about ahorizontal axis, said locker including a rack adapted to receive luggagewhich is of generally parallelepiped shape, has a back from whichextends a bottom wall and an opening at the end opposite said back, andis mobile between a lying down position in which said back is in asubstantially vertical plane, said bottom wall is in a substantiallyhorizontal plane, and said opening is facing a wall of said compartment,and an inclined position in which said bottom wall is inclined to thehorizontal and said opening of said rack is in a raised positionrelative to said back, in which luggage locker movement of said rackbetween said lying down position and said inclined position is acombination of a movement in translation in a horizontal plane androtation about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction ofmovement in translation of said rack.
 2. The aircraft luggage lockerclaimed in claim 1 wherein said rack pivot axis substantiallycorresponds to an edge between said back of said rack and said bottomwall that is horizontal in said lying down position, is mobile, andtracks said movement in translation.
 3. The aircraft luggage lockerclaimed in claim 1 wherein said seat cushion pivots about a horizontalaxis at a junction between said seat cushion and a back of said seat. 4.The aircraft luggage locker claimed in claim 1 wherein said pivoting ofsaid seat cushion causes said movement of said rack.
 5. The aircraftluggage locker claimed in claim 1, further including a lid which forms afloor, is adapted to pivot about one of its edges, is disposed betweensaid rack and said seat cushion and is substantially horizontal whensaid rack is in said lying down position.
 6. The aircraft luggage lockerclaimed in claim 1 wherein said rack has a top wall that issubstantially horizontal when said rack is in said lying down positionand has a hinge axis parallel to said pivot axis of said seat cushion.7. An aircraft seat comprising a seat cushion and a seat back whereinsaid seat cushion pivots about a substantially horizontal axis and saidseat incorporates a luggage locker as claimed in claim
 1. 8. Theaircraft seat claimed in claim 7 wherein said pivot axis of said seatcushion is at a junction between said seat cushion and said seat back.9. The aircraft seat claimed in claim 7, further including a floorcovering said rack of said luggage locker when the latter is in saidlying down position, a lid being provided in said floor for access tosaid rack.